Halloween is right round the corner, which means it’s time to get pumpkin carving, and find creepy decorations to dress up your home. It’s also a great excuse for kids (and adults!) to dress up in scary outfits. Yet, the aftermath of Halloween can be messy and can require a lot of cleaning. We have laid out step by step tips how to clean up after Halloween!

Pumpkin stains

Pumpkins; the pinnacle of Halloween. Kids and adults alike enjoy carving their scary pumpkins, ready to be lit up on Halloween. However, as fun as it is, it can be very messy work! The slimy pumpkin pulp can cause very stubborn stains, clinging onto clothes for a long time without proper treatment. Treatment might have to be repeated, but remain patient, this step-by-step guide will help you remove them for good!

Use an enzyme-based stain penetrator and massage it into the material. Leave it for a few hours to remove the stain. If it doesn’t budge, massage in some laundry detergent.

Wash the item on the hottest temperature the material can handle without getting damaged.

If the stain remains, blot it with alcohol or vinegar.

By now your clothes probably smell awful, so wash again on a normal temperature and allow it to air dry.

The clothing should by now be stain-free!

Photo credit: pixabay.com

Face paint

Face painting is a great way to spook up any outfit, with many children sporting white ghoulish face paint, and green wrinkly witches skin. However, it can take a while to come off, so they might be left with a funny coloured tinge to their face the day after; probably not ideal for school. Luckily, our guide will ensure that those stains are easily removed.

It’s best to first look at the face paint bottle instructions, as the correct method for the face paint ingredients is stated.

If the stains persist, first wash your face with soap and water and a flannel/sponge. This should remove the most, but there may be slight staining left.

Use a make up wipe to remove the rest.

If you don’t have make up wipes, cotton wool with a dab of moisturiser should work.

If you have any last bits remaining, repeat this process. Wait some time before repeating or you will irritate your skin.

Photo credit: Dragon Images/Shutterstock

Fake blood

Fake blood is a great Halloween accessory and does look very realistic! It can be a right nightmare to clean up. Luckily, the instructions for this are pretty similar to face paint, but if it is very stubborn you could also try a mixture of baking soda and water, and rub it gently onto the stain and leave it for 2 minutes. Alternatively, a dab of Vaseline on cotton wool might just do the trick!

Photo credit: flickr.com/photos/angryjuliemonday/

Make-up

Halloween gives children a chance to try out makeup, applying black eyeliner and deep red or black lipsticks. However, make up can smudge and must be taken off carefully as to not damage the eyes and skin. The best method is to first use a make up wipe, rather than water, as the makeup can bleed into the eyes and cause a stinging sensation. If you do not have make up wipes, fear not, cotton wool with a touch of moisturiser should work (as long as you go careful to avoid getting it in your eyes!).

Once you’ve removed the majority of the make up, you can then wash your face with warm water.

Photo credit: Remita/Shutterstock

Glitter

Glitter can add a real shimmer and sparkle to an outfit, yet it’s got to be one of the most annoying things to clean up. It sticks to EVERYTHING! And can cling onto skin for a long time, and remain buried in carpets for weeks, even months!

This method is guaranteed to ensure it doesn’t hang around for long:

Use a damp cloth to brush it into a concentrated corner.

Use a vacuum cleaner to remove excess glitter.

A lint roller or pieces of tape can be used to pick up the bits still remaining.

If there are any bits still sticking to the floor, blow up a balloon and rub it on the carpet to build up some static charge. This should attract the bits of glitter, leaving your carpet glitter-free!

Photo credit: pixabay.com

Hairspray dye

Hairspray is a great tool for changing the colour of your hair, only lasting up until you wash it. Unfortunately, it can be very messy and the spray can travel onto carpets, curtains and furniture.

Hair

It might take up to 3 washes to remove the hair spray completely, as long as you are thorough. You can purchase special shampoo's to remove the colour quicker.

Clothing

Pre-treat with stain remover and wash your clothing on a high temperature; make sure to read the label first and assess the best temperature.

Photo credit: Olga Ekaterincheva/Shutterstock

Upholstery

Take a sponge and soak it in a detergent dishwashing solution – use the sponge to blot your furniture until liquid is absorbed. Then rinse with cold water with a damp cloth. You may need to repeat this a few times.

Hopefully we’ve equipped you with all the necessary cleaning tips for a clean Halloween. Here at London Cleaning System wish you a Happy (and not too messy!) Halloween.